The Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour still needs about 40 volunteers for the Sunday, May 4 event.

The Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour is seeking volunteers who will spend a morning or afternoon greeting tour participants and answering questions at this exciting, free native plant garden tour.  More than 60 gardens located throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties will be showcased on this tour, which will take place on Sunday, May 4, 2008. Volunteers can select the garden they would like to spend time at by visiting the “Preview the Gardens” section at www.BringingBackTheNatives.net.

Greeters do not need to be familiar with natives; they staff the entry tables, take tickets, and are friendly to the general public.  Garden Assistants help the hosts and should be able to answer basic questions about native plants.  

Benefits to volunteers include: invitations to Garden Soirees, in which a variety of tour gardens are open to hosts and volunteers for leisurely and companionable viewing; a pre-tour meeting with the owner and private tour of the garden you will be staffing; a guaranteed tour reservation for the half day you are free; a Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour t-shirt, and, perhaps best of all, heartfelt thanks for helping to educate the general public about the many pleasures and benefits of gardening with California native plants.  To volunteer, just fill out the registration form at www.BringingBackTheNatives.net, and complete the volunteer section. For more information, please e-mail Kathy Kramer at Kathy@KathyKramerConsulting.net, or call (510) 236-9558 between 9 am and 9 pm.